Cam Newton's NFL workout impresses media

NFL draft prospect and 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, center, talks with the media after a football workout Thursday in San Diego. AP PHOTO

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NFL draft prospect Cam Newton, who led Auburn to the 2011 BCS title with a victory over Oregon, has immersed himself for the past two weeks in intensive, full-day workouts both on this high school field and in the UC San Diego classroom with quarterback 'builder' George Whitfield Jr.

Warren Moon (right), who, on the request of Cam Newton's father Cecil Newton, has stepped in as a mentor for Cam. He briefly interrupted the workout to pull Newton aside and correct the quarterback's transfer of weight during a throw.

Said former NFL quarterback Warren Moon (right) of Cam Newton: 'The kid works very hard, has got incredible athletic ability and is willing to make the changes necessary to be a quarterback at the next level.'

George Whitfield Jr. guided Newton through agility drills, shark-turn passing drills with still and moving wide receivers, weight-transfer throwing, pocket-evasion and pressure drills, window reads from under center, and passing to receivers on mid- and long-range routes using five- and seven-step drops -- with and without play-action.

NFL Draft prospect Cam Newton, who led Auburn to the 2011 BCS title with a victory over Oregon, worked out for the media Thursday. Newton, the projected No. 10 selection in Todd McShay's mock draft for ESPN, looked strong and sharp, his footwork efficient and his throws tight and accurate. MARCIA C. SMITH, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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As a junior this past season at Auburn, Cam Newton completed 185 of 280 passes for 2,854 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns on 264 carriers.

Trent Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback who is now working for ESPN, called the workout in front of media a "brilliant" opportunity for the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Newton to show that he can be a passer, not just a superb playmaking athlete who flourished in Auburn's spread offense.

SAN DIEGO – Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton held a private workout in front of more than 50 media members on Thursday morning at Cathedral Catholic High School, displaying improvements in his passing game that he hopes will raise his profile for the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine and April's NFL draft.

Newton, who led Auburn to the 2011 BCS title with a victory over Oregon, has immersed himself for the past two weeks in intensive, full-day workouts both on this high school field and in the UC San Diego classroom with quarterback "builder" George Whitfield Jr.

The workout, which was arranged by Newton's father, Cecil, and coordinated through a public relations firm that extended invitations to national media outlets, including ESPN and the NFL Network, was intended to present a snapshot of Newton's daily regimen and show that he had the potential to operate under center as a pro-style quarterback.

"Today was just an opportunity for people to see and get a glimpse of what I do on a day-to-day basis ..." said Newton, who is planning to attend the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Feb. 23. "I felt like I had to come out and get better ... by being on balance, finishing my throws.

"Of course, with me coming out of a spread offense, there was a concern with me being fluent coming out from under center.... I wanted to come out here and show what I have evolved from a month removed from the national championship."

Whitfield guided Newton through the highlights of their daily routine: agility drills, shark-turn passing drills with still and moving wide receivers, weight-transfer throwing, pocket-evasion and pressure drills, window reads from under center, and finally passing to receivers on mid- and long-range routes using five- and seven-step drops with and without play-action.

"He has been pumped for this," said Whitfield, whom Newton sought out for his work with Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during his four-week suspension this past season. "He's fired up."

Trent Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback who is now working for ESPN, called the workout in front of media a "brilliant" opportunity for the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Newton to show that he can be a passer, not just a superb playmaking athlete who flourished in Auburn's spread offense.

As a junior this past season, Newton completed 185 of 280 passes for 2,854 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns on 264 carriers.

Newton, the projected No. 10 selection in Todd McShay's mock draft for ESPN, looked strong and sharp, his footwork efficient and his throws tight and accurate. But after the workout, that number could climb.

Warren Moon, who, on the request of Cecil Newton, has stepped in as a mentor for Cam, briefly interrupted the workout to pull Newton aside and correct the quarterback's transfer of weight during a throw. After making the instant fix, Moon and Whitfield applauded.

"The kid works very hard, has got incredible athletic ability and is willing to make the changes necessary to be a quarterback at the next level," said Moon, who remembered coaching a raw Newton during a high school quarterback camp at Disneyworld. "I believe that he's going to go in the top 5 in the draft."

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